Goodbye Svetlana 

23 Feb

We never saw it coming. Just last week, I was gushing about how harmonious and happy the little aquarium was with Svetlana and friends. To our horror last night, M2 discovered a lifeless body on the aquarium bed.

Svetlana! Oh no. Noo…..

Our beloved Russian Betta’s happy life has come to an unexpected end. Her electric blue color body looked intact, no bite marks or anything. So it was quite a heartache to discover her sudden demise. And to make matters worse, I felt a sense of loss in Bobinsky, Hobnob’s and Phish. They seem to be hovering in sadness over Svetlana’s lifeless body. I can choke in tears now thinking about it.

Hubby concluded she died of old age. Sniff. Rest in peace, Svetlana, we will miss you.

Pre-Chap Goh Meh Dinner

22 Feb

The family actually had the Chap Goh Meh dinner last night instead of tonight, calling it the Pre-Chap Goh Meh dinner. A simple family get together for another hearty meal.

Having the dinner yesterday was a good decision as it was a Sunday and plenty of time for preparation. If dinner was held tonight, being a work and school day, preparations may not be so smooth and we would all end up having a late dinner and a long day.

As always with family occasions, it turned out well despite a lesser spread than the Reunion Dinner menu but this was not important. More important is the fact that with this occasion complete, and today being the 15th day of Chinese New Year, it marks the last day for celebrating. No more monkeying around the Year of the Monkey, pun intended.

I need a break from all this eating!

  

Stalled

19 Feb

I must say I have reached an impressive level of 1500 for Candy Crush Saga. Can’t believe that I am still at it. My other games have also progressed well: Level 895 for Monster Blasters and Level 837 for Soda. Even the Jackpot game that I diligently spin in Facebook everyday. I cracked Top 20 yesterday!

But the same satisfaction cannot be said for Candy Crush Jelly and Farm Heroes. I have stalled at Level 95 and Level 846 respectively. Sigh… Hopefully it won’t stay like this for long.

I Gotta Do Something

18 Feb

This constant eating or should I say, over eating, is getting to me and I decided not to wait until after Chap Goh Meh to do something about it.

On Monday (night), being the 8th day of Chinese New Year, we were visiting a friend and the food spread beckoned. Oh dear, I was actually still feeling stuffed from lunch! I was cautious and conscious to eat in moderation. I even minimised my beer intake because my Liz Claiborne pants never felt so tight. Groan…

The next day, there was another Yee Sang dinner scheduled with our Tuesday Food Club friends but I opted out because I had to send M2 to her tuition class; hubby went for the dinner alone.

On Wednesday morning, I decided to walk and play 9-holes of golf in anticipation of yet another Yee Sang meal ahead, lunch with my office staff. I think it’s the least I can do for now. I managed to burn 282kcal in my 5.8km walk, recorded by my Mi Band.

There’s still the finale Chap Goh Meh big feast ahead and who knows, some impromptu in between meals may crop up. So I gotta do something to reduce my guilt and my waistline…Today, I will walk 9-holes again. I need to.

Svetlana and Friends

16 Feb

I must say Svetlana’s latest batch of companions have gotten along very well with her. They all look very happy. Up until today, the inhabitants of the little aquarium are living harmoniously and no untoward incidents. Thank goodness.

All of them came up close to the front of the aquarium this morning when I was trying to take a snapshot of them. They were swimming around and jostling for attention, as if trying to pose for me! It was heart-warming.

Look at them, so happy and carefree.

   
    
    
 

Back to Normal?

15 Feb

The long stretch of the Chinese New Year holiday is over as we go back to work today. Are things back to normal? Yes and no.

The weekday routine remains the same; M2 is back in school with her extra curricular hours as before the break and work in the office continues where we had left off. It is only up to here that things seem normal. 

Beyond this, my pants feel tighter as I am pretty sure my waistline have expanded, what with all that eating or should I say excessive eating, and there are several more Yee Sang tossing lunch/dinner sessions lined up, so how can this be back to normal?

I guess I just have to face it until Chap Goh Meh, then it’s really back to normal.

The Eating Continues

12 Feb

It is the fifth day of Chinese New Year and today, we will eat the traditional ‘Mee Sua’ when we see my Mom shortly. This traditional noodle dish that she cooks every year during this festivity as well as during birthdays, comes with two hard boiled eggs, some meat and served with soup signifies the person being a year older, upon consumption, and wiser to face the new year. It is nice when tradition is still kept alive. Bless Mom for this.

Today we will also visit some relatives and I foresee more eating, if not a hearty meal, at least munching on cookies and sweet offerings, typically found during this time. I have not stepped on my scale in the bathroom. Maybe after Chap Goh Meh… Then the workouts will begin but until then, the eating continues.

It’s All About Eating

11 Feb

Chinese New Year is all about eating. Traffic was not that bad when we traveled on Monday. And when we arrived, we had a late lunch. Then an early dinner.

The next day, it was a full three meals, starting with Roti Canai for breakfast and lunch, a home-cooked spread at an aunty’s place. As for dinner, we drove to Kuala Kedah to enjoy a sunset before having dinner at the seafood restaurant nearby the coast. Burp.

Thank goodness by Wednesday, the third day of Chinese New Year, we went off to play golf at Darulaman Golf Club. I should say a necessity so that I don’t feel so guilty with all these intake; burnt some calories I sure did. Lunch and dinner were again meals at home.

Today we head on home, after a meal of course. Hopefully traffic will be smooth. All in all, it has been all about eating more than catching up with family. 

Seafood galore at Kuala Kedah

Eesh! Another Difference!

9 Feb

Did you know Level 1486 of Candy Crush on the iPad is different from the laptop in Facebook? I was stuck at the level for awhile and was taken aback when the same level appeared differently on my different devices. When I YouTubed up Level 1486, results shown were the laptop’s version, not the iPad’s. So I played the iPad’s 1486 most of the time.

Then I made progress and discovered that Level 1486, with an all red jellybean starting board on the laptop is actually Level 1488 on the iPad! 

Why does King.com do this? Eesh. Now I am curious as to what Level 1488 on the laptop in Facebook is. But I won’t know until I am back home as I do not have my laptop with me on this trip.

Happy Monkey Year!

8 Feb

Today is the beginning of the Fire Monkey year and it is our first Chinese New Year without M1. Feels funny. Last night, we had the Reunion Dinner with my Mom and my sibling and his family at his home. And as always, the home-cooked food spread is the highlight (save for the purchased roast duck and Siew Yoke) and the family bonding time precious. Tossing the Yee Sang was fun.

Later today, we will head on up North to hubby’s hometown. I hope traffic will be kind because I have read about people taking nine hours on the road for a typical three and a half hour journey!

Then again, the exodus began last Friday and Saturday for the Reunion Dinner on Sunday night; it is Monday today and we shouldn’t be facing heavy traffic. Technically shouldn’t… We shall see.

Nonetheless, being on the road, we will drive safe and be there when we get there. Here’s wishing everyone a safe, peaceful and more positive year ahead. Gong Xi Fa Cai!